Thespiritanimatingwealthhadanunrealinsubstantialindependence;wealthwassomethinggivenfreelytoall。Bycommunicatingwhatithas,however,itpassesintosomethingessentialandinherent;sinceitfulfilleditsdestiny,thatofsacrificingitself,itcancelstheaspectofsingleness,thatofmerelyseekingenjoymentforone\'sownself,and,beingthussublatedquasingle,spirithereisuniversalityoressentiallyreal。
Whatitimparts,whatitgivestoothers,isself-existence。Itdoesnothanditselfover,however,asanaturalself-lessobject,asthefranklyandfreelyofferedconditionofunconsciouslife,butasself-conscious,asarealitykeepingholdofitself:itisnotlikethepowerofaninorganicelementwhichisfeltbytheconsciousnessreceivingitsforcetobeinherentlytransitory;itisthepoweroverself,apowerawarethatitisindependentandvoluntary,andknowingatthesametimethatwhatitdispensesbecomestheselfofsomeoneelse。
Wealththussharesrepudiationwithitsclientele;butinplaceofrevoltappearsarrogance。Forinoneaspectitknows,aswellastheselfitbenefits,thatitsself-existenceisamatterofaccidentbutitselfisthisaccidentinwhosepowerpersonalityisplaced。Inthismoodofarrogance—whichthinksithassecuredthroughadoleanalienego-nature,andtherebybroughtitsinmostbeingintosubmission—itoverlooksthesecretrebellionoftheotherself:itoverlooksthefactofallbondsbeingcompletelycastaside,overlooksthispuredisintegration,inwhich,theself-identityofwhatexistsforitsownsakehavingbecomesheerinternaldiscordance,allonenessandconcord,allsubsistenceisrentasunder,andinwhichinconsequencethereputeofandrespectforthebenefactorarethefirsttobeshattered。Itstandsdirectlyinfrontofthisabyss,cleavingittotheinnermost,thisbottomlesspit,whereeverysolidbaseandstayhavevanished:andinthedepthsitseesnothingbutacommonthing,aplaythingforitswhims,achanceresultofitsowncaprice。Itsspiritconsistsinquiteunrealimagining,inbeingsuperficialityforsakenofalltruespiritualimport。
Justasself-consciousnesshaditsownmannerofspeechindealingwithstate-power,inotherwords,justasspirittooktheformofexpresslyandactuallymediatingbetweenthesetwoextremes,self-consciousnesshasalsoamodeofspeechindealingwithwealth;butstillmorewheninrevoltdoesitadoptalanguageofitsown。Theformofutterancewhichsupplieswealthwiththesenseofitsownessentialsignificance,andtherebymakesitselfmasterofit,islikewisethelanguageofflattery,butofignobleflattery;forwhatitgivesouttobetheessentialreality,itknowstobearealitywithoutaninherentnatureofitsown,tobesomethingatthemercyofothers。Thelanguageofflattery,however,asalreadyremarked,isthatofaspiritstillone-sided。Tobesureitsconstituentelementsare,ontheonehand,aselfmouldedbyserviceintoashapewhereitisreducedtobareexistence,and,ontheother,theinherentrealityofthepowerdominatingtheself。
Yetthebareprinciple,thepureconception,inwhichthesimpleselfandtheinherentreality(Ansich),thatpureegoandthispurerealityorthought,areoneandthesamething—thisconceptualunityofthetwoaspectsbetweenwhichthereciprocitytakeseffect,isnotconsciouslyfeltwhenthislanguageisused。Theobjectisconsciouslystilltheinherentrealityinoppositiontotheself;inotherwords,theobjectisnotforconsciousnessatthesametimeitsownproperselfassuch。
Thelanguageexpressingtheconditionofdisintegration,whereinspirituallifeisrentasunder,is,however,theperfectformofutteranceforthisentirerealmofspiritualcultureanddevelopment,oftheformativeprocessofmouldingself-consciousness(Bildung),andisthespiritinwhichitmosttrulyexists。Thisself-consciousness,whichfindsbefittingtherebellionthatrepudiatesitsownrepudiation,iseoipsoabsoluteself-identityinabsolutedisintegration,thepureactivityofmediatingpureself-consciousnesswithitself。Itistheonenessexpressedintheidenticaljudgment,whereoneandthesamepersonalityissubjectaswellaspredicate。Butthisidenticaljudgmentisatthesametimetheinfinitejudgment;forthispersonalityisabsolutelysplitintwo,andsubjectandpredicateareentitiesutterlyindifferentonetotheother,whichhavenothingtodowitheachother,withnonecessaryunity,somuchsothateachhasthepowerofanindependentpersonalityofitsown。Whatexistsasaselfonitsownaccounthasforitsobjectitsownself-existence,whichisobjectinthesenseofanabsoluteother,andetatthesametimedirectlyintheformofitself—itselfinthesenseofanother,notasifthishadanothercontent,forthecontentisthesameselfintheformofanabsoluteopposite,withanexistencecompletelyallitsownandindifferent。
Wehave,then,herethespiritofthisrealworldofformativeculture,consciousofitsownnatureasittrulyis,andconsciousofitsultimateandessentialprinciple(Begriff)。
Thistypeofspirituallifeistheabsoluteanduniversalinversionofrealityandthought,theirentireestrangementtheonefromtheother;itispureculture。Whatisfoundoutinthissphereisthatneithertheconcreterealities,state-powerandwealth,northeirdeterminateconceptions,goodandbad,northeconsciousnessofgoodandbad(theconsciousnessthatisnobleandtheconsciousnessthatisbase)possessrealtruth;itisfoundthatallthesemomentsareinvertedandtransmutedtheoneintotheother,andeachistheoppositeofitself。
Theuniversalpower,whichisthesubstance,whenitgainsaspiritualnaturepeculiarlyitsownthroughtheprincipleofindividuality,acceptsthepossessionofaselfofitsownmerelyasa。namebywhichitisdescribed,and,eveninbeingactualpower,isreallysopowerlessastohavetosacrificeitself。Butthisself-lessrealitygivenovertoothers,thisselfthatisturnedintoathing,isinfactthereturnoftherealityintoitself;itisaself-existencethatisthereforitsownsake,itistheexistenceofspirit。
Theprinciplesbelongingtotheserealities,thethoughtsofgoodandbad,aresimilarlytransmutedandreversedinthisprocess;whatischaracterizedasgoodisbad,andviceversa。Theconsciousnessofeachofthesemomentsbyitself,theconscioustypesjudgedasnobleandbase—theseareratherintheirrealtruthsimilarlythereverseofwhatthesespecificformsintendtobe;
nobilityisbaseandrepudiated,justaswhatisrepudiatedasbaseturnsroundintothenoblenessthatcharacterizesthemosthighlydevelopedformoffreeself-consciousness。
Lookedatformally,everythingislikewiseinitsexternalaspectsthereverseofwhatitisinternallyforitself;andagainitisnotreallyandintruthwhatitisforitself,butsomethingelsethanitwantstobe;itsexistenceonitsownaccountis,strictlyspeaking,thelossofself,andalienationofselfisreallyself-preservation。
Thestateofthingsbroughtabouthere,then,isthatallmomentsexecutejusticeononeanotherallround,eachisjustasmuchinaconditionofinherentself-alienationasitmouldsitselfintoitsopposite,andinthiswayreversesthenatureofthatopposite。
(b)TheLanguageofDistractionSpirittrulyobjective,however,isjustthisunityofabsolutelyseparatemoments,andinfactcomesintoexistenceasthecommonground,themediatingagency,justthroughtheindependentrealityoftheseself-lessextremes。Itsexistenceconsistsinuniversaltalkanddepreciatoryjudgmentrendingandtearingeverything,beforewhichallthosemomentsarebrokenupthataremeanttosignifysomethingrealandtostandforactualmembersofthewhole,andwhichatthesametimeplayswithitselfthisgameofself-dissolution。Thisjudgingandtalkingis,therefore,therealtruth,whichcannotbegotover,whileitoverpowerseverythingitisthatwhichinthisrealworldisalonetrulyofimportance。Eachpartofthisworldcomestofindthereitsspiritexpressed,orgetstobespokenofwithespritandfindssaidofitwhatitis。
Thehonest(8)soultakeseachmomentasapermanentandessentialfact,andistheuncultivatedthoughtlessconditionthatdoesnotthinkanddoesnotknowthatitislikewisedoingtheveryinverse。Thedistraughtanddisintegratedsoulis,however,awareofinversion;itis,infact,aconsciousnessofabsoluteinversion:theconceptualprinciplepredominatesthere,bringstogetherintoasingleunitythethoughtsthatliefarapartinthecaseofthehonestsoul,andthelanguageconveyingitsmeaningis,therefore,fullofespritandwit(geistreich)。
Thecontentutteredbyspiritandutteredaboutitselfis,then,theinversionandperversionofallconceptionsandrealities,auniversaldeceptionofitselfandofothers。Theshamelessnessmanifestedinstatingthisdeceitisjustonthataccountthegreatesttruth。Thisstyleofspeechisthemadnessofthemusician“whopiledandmixeduptogethersomethirtyairs,Italian,French,tragic,comic,ofallsortsandkinds;now,withadeepbass,hedescendedtothedepthsofhell,then,contractinghisthroattoahigh,pipingfalsetto,herentthevaultoftheskies,ravingandsoothed,haughtilyimperiousandmockinglyjeeringbyturns“。(9)Theplacidsoul(10)thatinsimplehonestyofhearttakesthemelodyofthegoodandtruetoconsistinharmonyofsoundanduniformityoftones,i。e。inasinglenote,regardsthisstyleofexpressionasa“fantasticmixtureofwisdomandfolly,ameléeofasmuchskillaslowcunning,composedofideasaslikelytoberightaswrong,withascompleteaperversionofsentiment,withasmuchconsummateshamefulnessinit,asabsolutefrankness,candour,andtruth。Itwillnotbeable,torefrainfrombreakingoutintoallthesetones,andrunningupanddownthewholegamutoffeeling,fromthedepthsofcontemptandrepudiationtothehighestpitchofadmirationandstirringemotion。Aveinoftheridiculouswillbediffusedthroughthelatter,whichtakesawayfromtheirnature“;theformerwillfindintheirverycandourastrainofatoningreconcilement,willfindintheirshudderingdepthstheall-powerfulstrainwhichgivestoitselfspirit。
Ifweconsider,bywayofcontrasttothemodeofutteranceindulgedinbythisself-transparentdistractedtypeofmind,thelanguageadoptedbythatsimple,placidconsciousnessofthegoodandthetrue,wefindthatitcanonlyspeakinmonosyllableswhenfacetofacewiththefrankandself-consciouseloquenceoftheminddevelopedundertheinfluenceofculture;foritcansaynothingtothelatterthatthelatterdoesnotknowandsay。Ifitgetsbeyondspeakinginmonosyllables,thenitsaysthesamethingthatthecultivatedmindexpresses,butindoingsocommits,inaddition,thefollyofimaginingthatitissayingsomethingnew,somethingdifferent。Itsverysyllables,“disgraceful“,“base“,arethisfollyalready,fortheothersays。themofitself。Thislattertypeofspiritpervertsinitsmodeofutteranceeverythingthatsoundsmonotonous,becausethisself-samenessismerelyanabstraction,butinitsactualrealityisintrinsicallyandinherentlyperversion。Ontheotherhand,again,theunsophisticatedmindtakesunderitsprotectionthegoodandthenoble(i。e。whatretainsitsidentityofmeaninginbeingobjectivelyexpressed),anddefendsitintheonlywayherepossible-thatistosay,thegooddoesnotloseitsvaluebecauseitmaybelinkedwithwhatisbadormingledwithit,fortobethusassociatedwithbadnessisitsconditionandnecessity,andthewisdomofnatureliesinthisfact。Yetthisunsophisticatedmind,whileitintendedtocontradict,hasmerely,indoingso,gatheredintoatriflingformthemeaningofwhatspiritsaid,andputitinamannerwhich,byturningtheoppositeofnobleandgoodintothenecessaryconditionofnobleandgood,thoughtlesslysupposesitselftoconveysomethingelsethanthattheso-callednobleandgoodisbyitsverynaturethereverseofitself,orthatwhatisbadis,conversely,somethingexcellent。
Ifthena?veconsciousnessmakesupforthisbarren,soullessideabytheconcreterealityofwhatisexcellent,byadducinganexampleofwhatisexcellent,whetherintheformofafictitiouscaseoratruestory,andthusshowsittobenotanemptyname,butanactualfact,thenithasagainstittheuniversalrealityofthepervertedactionoftheentirerealworld,wherethatexampleconstitutesmerelysomethingquiteisolatedandparticular,merelyanespece,asortofthing。Andtorepresenttheexistenceofthegoodandthenobleasanisolatedparticularanecdote,whetherfictitiousortrue,isthebitterestthingthatcanbesaidaboutit。
Finally,shouldthena?vemindrequirethisentiresphereofperversiontobedissolvedandbrokenup,itcannotasktheindividualtowithdrawoutofit,forevenDiogenesinhistub[withhispretenceofwithdrawal]isundertheswayofthatperversion;andtoaskthisoftheparticularindividualistoaskhimtodopreciselywhatistakentobebad,viz。tocareforhimselfasindividual。Butifthedemandtowithdrawisdirectedattheuniversalindividual,itcannotmeanthatreasonmustagaingiveupthecultureanddevelopmentofspiritualconsciouslifewhichithasreached,thatreasonshouldlettheextensiverichesofitsmomentssinkbackintothena?vetéofnaturalemotion,andrevertandapproximatetothewildconditionoftheanimalconsciousness,whichisalsocalledthenaturalstateofinnocence。Onthecontrary,thedemandforthisdissolutioncanonlybeaddressedtothespiritofcultureitself,andcanonlymeanthatitmustquaspiritreturnoutofitsconfusionintoitself,andwinforitselfastillhigherlevelofconsciouslife。
Inpointoffact,however,spirithasalreadyaccomplishedthisresult。Tobeconsciousofitsowndistraughtandtornconditionandtoexpressitselfaccordingly,—thisistopourscornfullaughteronexistence,ontheconfusionpervadingthewholeandonitselfaswell:itisatthesametimethiswholeconfusiondyingawayandyetapprehendingitselftobedoingso。Thisself-apprehendingvanityofallrealityandofeverydefiniteprinciplereflectstherealworldintoitselfinatwofoldform:
intheparticularselfofconsciousnessquaparticular,andinthepureuniversalityofconsciousness,inthought。Accordingtothefirstaspect,mindthuscometoitselfhasdirecteditsgazeintotheworldofactualreality,andstillhasthatrealityasitsownpurposeanditsimmediatecontent:fromtheotherside,itsgazeisinpartturnedsolelyonitselfandagainstthatworldofreality,inpartturnedawayfromittowardsheaven,anditsobjectistheregionbeyondtheworld。
(c)TheVanityofCultureInrespectofthatreturnintoselfthevanityofallthingsisitsownpeculiarvanity,itisitselfvain。Itisselfexistingforitsownsake,aselfthatknowsnotonlyhowtosumupandchatterabouteverything,butcleverlytostatethecontradictionthatliesintheheartofthesolidelementsofreality,andinthefixeddeterminationswhichjudgmentsetsup;andthiscontradictionistheirrealtruth。Lookedatformallyitknowseverythingtobeestrangedfromitself;self-existenceiscutofffromessentialbeing(Ansich),whatisintendedandthepurposeareseparatedfromrealtruth,andfrombothagainexistenceforanother,whatisostensiblyputforwardiscutofffromthepropermeaning,therealfact,thetrueintention。
Itthusknowsexactlyhowtoputeachmomentinantithesistoeveryother,knowsinshorthowtoexpresscorrectlytheperversionthatdominatesallofthem:itknowsbetterthaneachwhateachis,nomatterhowitisconstituted。Sinceitapprehendswhatissubstantialfromthesideofthatdisunionandcontradictionofelementscombinedwithinitsnature,butnotfromthesideofthisunionitself,itunderstandsverywellhowtopassjudgmentonthissubstantialreality,buthaslostthecapacityoftrulygraspingit。
Thisvanityneedsatthesametimethevanityofallthings,inordertogetfromthemconsciousnessofitselfitthereforeitselfcreatesthisvanity,andisthesoulthatsupportsit。State-powerandwealtharethesupremepurposesofitsstrenuousexertion,itisawarethatthroughrenunciationandsacrificeitismouldedintouniversalshape,thatitattainsuniversality,andinpossessinguniversalityfindsgeneralrecognitionandacceptance:state-powerandwealtharetherealandactuallyacknowledgedformsofpower。Butitsgainingacceptancethusisitselfvain,andjustbythefactthatitgetsthemasteryoverthemitknowsthemtobenotrealbythemselves,knowsratheritselftobethepowerwithinthem,andthemtobevainandempty。Thatinpossessingthemitthusitselfisabletostandapartfromandoutsidethem—thisiswhatitexpressesinwittyphrases;andtoexpressthisis,therefore,itssupremeinterest,andthetruemeaningofthewholeprocess。Insuchutterancethisself-intheformofapureselfnotassociatedwithorboundbydeterminationsderivedeitherfromrealityorthought-comesconsciouslytobeaspiritualentityhavingatrulyuniversalsignificanceandvalue。Itistheconditioninwhichthenatureofallrelationshipsisrentasunder,anditistheconsciousrendingofthemall。Butonlybyself-consciousnessbeingrousedtorevoltdoesitknowitsownpeculiartornandshatteredcondition;andinitsknowingthisithasipsofactorisenabovethatcondition。Inthatstateofself-consciousvanityallsubstantialcontentcomestohaveanegativesignificance,whichcannolongerbetakeninapositivesense。Thepositiveobjectismerelythepureegoitself;andtheconsciousnessthatisrentinsunderisinherentlyandessentiallythispureself-identityofself-consciousnessreturnedtoitself。
1。Itwillbeobservedthat“culture“embracesallmeansofself-development,“ideas“aswellasmaterialfactorssuchas“wealth“。
2。Bacon\'sphrase,“Knowledgeispower“。
3。“Espèceseditdepersonnesauxquellesonnetrouveniqualiténimérite。”-Littré。
4。Diderot\'sRameau\'sNeffe。
5。Cp。Hume\'sviewof“personalidentity“,Treatise,pt。IV,c。6。
6。Cp。“L\'étatc\'estmoi。”
7。v。p。524。
8。v。p。432ff。
9。Diderot,Rameau\'sNeffe。
10。The“philosopher“inDiderot\'sDialogue。
I。bBeliefandPureInsight(1)
THEspiritualconditionofself-estrangementexistsinthesphereofcultureasafact。Butsincethiswholehasbecomeestrangedfromitself,thereliesbeyondthisspherethenonactualrealmofpureconsciousness,ofthought。Itscontentconsistsofwhathasbeenreducedpurelytothought,itsabsoluteelementisthinking。Since,however,thinkingisinthefirstinstancetheelementofthisworld,consciousnesshasmerelythesethoughts,butitdoesnotasyetthinkthemordoesnotknowthattheyarethoughts:toconsciousnesstheyappearintheformofpresentations,theyareobjectsintheformofideas。Foritcomesoutofthesphereofactualityintothatofpureconsciousness,butisitselfstilltoallintentsandpurposesinthesphereofactualitywiththedeterminatenessthatimplies。Theconsciousstateofcontritionandabasementisstillessentiallyandinherentlytheself-identityofpureconsciousness,notasafactthatitselfisawareofbutonlyaspresentedtouswhoareconsideringitscondition。Ithasthusnotasyetcompletedwithinitselftheprocessofspiritualexaltation,itissimplythere;anditstillhaswithinitselftheoppositeprinciplebywhichitisconditioned,withoutasyethavingbecomemasterofthatprinciplethroughthemediatingprocess。Hencetheessentialcontentofitsthoughtisnottakentobeanessentialobjectmerelyintheformofabstractimmanence(Ansich),butintheformofacommonobject,anobjectthathasmerelybeenelevatedintoanotherelement,withouthavinglostthecharacterofanobjectthatisnotconstitutedbythought。
Itisessentiallydistinctfromtheimmanentnaturewhichconstitutestheessentialbeingofthestoictypeofconsciousness。ThesignificantfactorforStoicismwasmerelytheformofthoughtassuch,whichhasanycontentforeigntoitthatisdrawnfromactuality。Inthecaseoftheconsciousnessjustdescribed,however,itisnottheformofthoughtwhichcounts。Similarlyitisessentiallydistinctfromtheinherentprincipleofthevirtuoustypeofconsciouslife;heretheessentialfactstands,nodoubt,inarelationtoreality;itistheessenceofrealityitself:butitisnomorethananunrealizedessenceofit。Intheabovetypeofconsciousnesstheessence,althoughnodoubtbeyondreality,standsallthesameforanactualrealessence。Inthesameway,theinherentlyrightandgoodwhichreasonaslawgiverestablishes,andtheuniversaloperating—whenconsciousnesstestsandexamineslaws—neitherofthesehasthecharacterofactualreality。
Hencewhilepurethoughtfellwithinthesphereofspiritualcultureasanaspectoftheestrangementcharacteristicofthissphere,asthestandard,infact,forjudgingabstractgoodandabstractbad,ithasbecomeenriched,byhavinggonethroughtheprocessofthewhole,withtheelementofrealityandtherebywithcontent。Thisrealityofitsessentialbeing,however,isatthesametimemerelyarealityofpureconsciousness,notofconcreteactualconsciousness:itisnodoubtliftedintotheelementofthought,butthisconcreteconsciousnessdoesnotyettakeitforathought;itisbeyondtherealitypeculiartothisconsciousness,foritmeansflightfromthelatter。
(1)TheIdeaofBeliefIntheforminwhichReligionhereappears—foritisreligionobviouslythatwearespeakingabout—asthebeliefwhichbelongstotherealmofculture,religiondoesnotyetappearasitistrulyandcompletely(anundfürsich)。Ithasalreadycomebeforeusinotherphases,viz。astheunhappyconsciousness,asaformofconsciousprocesswithnosubstantialcontentinit。So,too,inthecaseoftheethicalsubstance,itappearedasabeliefinthenether-world。Butaconsciousnessofthedepartedspiritis,strictlyspeaking,notbelief,nottheinneressencesubsistingintheelementofpureconsciousnessawaybeyondtheactual:therethebeliefitshasitselfanimmediateexistenceinthepresent;itselementisthefamily。
Butatthestagewearenowconsidering,religionisinparttheoutcomeofthesubstance,andisthepureconsciousnessofthatsubstance;inpartthispureconsciousnessisalienatedfromitsconcreteactualconsciousness,theessencefromitsexistence。Itisthusdoubtlessnolongertheinsubstantialprocessofconsciousness;butithasstillthecharacteristicofoppositiontoactualityquathisactualityingeneral,andofoppositiontotheactualityofself-consciousnessinparticular。Itisessentially,therefore,merelyabelief。
ThispureconsciousnessofAbsoluteBeingisaconsciousnessinestrangement。Letusseemorecloselywhatisthecharacteristicofthatwhoseotheritis;wecanonlyconsideritinconnexionwiththisother。Inthefirstinstancethispureconsciousnessseemstohaveoveragainstitmerelytheworldofactuality。Butsinceitsnatureistofleefromthisactuality,andtherebyischaracterizedbyopposition,ithasthisactualityinherentwithinitsownbeing;pureconsciousnessis,therefore,essentiallyinitsverybeingselfalienated,andbeliefconstitutesmerelyonesideofit。Theothersidehasalreadyarisentoo。Forpureconsciousnessisreflexionoutoftheworldofcultureinsuchawaythatthesubstantialcontentofthissphere,asalsotheseparateareasintowhichitfalls,areshowntobewhattheyinherentlyare-essentialmodesofspirituallife,absolutelyrestlessprocessesordeterminatemomentswhichareatoncecancelledintheiropposite。Theiressentialnaturebareconsciousness,isthusthebaresimplicityofabsolutedistinction,distinctionwhichasitstandsisnodistinction。Consequentlyitispureself-existencenotofthissingleself,butessentiallyuniversalself,whosebeingconsistsinarestlessprocessinvadingandpervadingthestableexistenceofactualfact。Initisthusfoundthecertaintythatknowsitselfatonceasthetruth:therewehavepurethoughtinthesenseofabsolutenotionwithallitspowerofnegativity,whichannihilateseveryobjectiveexistencethatwouldclaimtostandoveragainstconsciousness,andturnsitintoaformofconsciousexistence。
Thispureconsciousnessisatthesametimesimpleandundifferentiatedaswell,justbecauseitsdistinctionisnodistinction。Beingthisformofbareandsimplereflexionintoself,however,itistheelementofbelief,inwhichspirithasthecharacterofpositiveuniversality,ofwhatisinherentandessentialincontrastwiththatself-existenceofself-consciousness。
Forcedbackuponitselfawayfromthisunsubstantialworldwhosebeingismeredissolution,spiritwhenweconsideritstruemeaningis,inundividedunity,atoncetheabsolutemovement,theceaselessprocessofnegatingitsappearance,aswellastheessentialsubstancethereofsatisfiedwithinitself,andthepositivestabilityofthatprocess。But,bearingastheyinherentlydothecharacteristicofalienation,thesetwomomentsfallapartintheshapeofatwofoldconsciousness。
TheformerispureInsight,thespiritualprocessconcentratedandfocussedinself-consciousness,aprocesswhichhasoveragainstittheconsciousnessofsomethingpositive,theformofobjectivityorpresentation,andwhichdirectsitselfagainstthispresentedobject。Theproperandpeculiarobjectofthisinsightis,however,merelypureego。(2)Thebareconsciousnessofthepositiveelement,ofunbrokenself-identity,findsitsobject,ontheotherhand,intheinnerrealityassuch。
(2)TheObjectofBeliefPureinsighthas,therefore,inthefirstinstance,nocontentwithinit,becauseitexistsforitselfbynegatingeverythinginit;tobelief,ontheotherhand,belongsthecontent,butwithoutinsight。
Whiletheformerdoesnotgetawayfromself-consciousness,thelattertobesurehasitscontentaswellintheelementofpureself-consciousness,butonlyinthought,notinconceptions—inpureconsciousness,notinpureself-consciousness。Beliefis,asafact,inthiswaypureconsciousnessoftheessentialreality,i。e。ofthebareandsimpleinnernature,andisthusthought—theprimaryfactorinthenatureofbelief,whichisgenerallyoverlooked。(3)Theimmediatenesswhichcharacterizesthepresenceoftheessentialrealitywithinitisduetothefactthatitsobjectisessence,innernature,i。e。purethought。(4)Thisimmediateness,however,sofarasthinkingentersconsciousness,orpureconsciousnessentersintoself-consciousness,acquiresthesignificanceofanobjectivebeingthatliesbeyondconsciousnessofself。Itisbecauseofthesignificancewhichimmediacyandsimplicityofpurethoughtthusacquireinconsciousnessthattheessentialreality,theobjectofbelief,dropsintobeinganimaginativelypresentedidea(Vorstellung),insteadofbeingthecontentofthought,andcomestobelookedatasasupersensibleworld,whichisessentiallyan“other“thanself-consciousness。
Inthecaseofpureinsight,ontheotherhand,thepassageofpurethoughtintoconsciousnesshastheoppositecharacter:objectivityhasthesignificanceofacontentthatismerelynegative,thatcancelsitselfandreturnsintotheself;thatistosay,onlytheselfisproperlyobjecttoself,or,toputitotherwise,theobjectonlyhastruthsofarasithastheformofself。
Asbeliefandpureinsightfallincommonwithinpureconsciousness,theyalsoincommoninvolvethemind\'sreturnoutoftheconcretesphereofspiritualculture。Therearethreeaspects,therefore,fromwhichtheyshowwhattheyare。Inoneaspecteachisoutsideeveryrelation,andhasabeingallitsown;inanothereachtakesupanattitudetowardstheconcreteactualworldstandinginantithesistopureconsciousness;whileinthethirdformeachisrelatedtotheotherinsidepureconsciousness。
Inthecaseofbelieftheaspectofcompletebeing,ofbeingin-and-for-itself,isitsabsoluteobject,whosecontentandcharacterwehavealreadycometoknow。Foritliesintheverynotionofbeliefthatthisobjectisnothingelsethantherealworldliftedintotheuniversalityofpureconsciousness。
Thearticulationofthisworld,therefore,constitutestheorganizationbelongingtopureuniversalityalso,exceptthatthepartsinthelattercasedonotalienateoneanotherwhenspiritualized,butarecompleterealitiesallbythemselves,arespirits(5)returnedintothemselvesandself-contained。
Theprocessoftheirtransitionfromoneintotheotheris,therefore,onlyforus[whoareanalysingtheprocess]analienationofthecharacteristicnatureinwhichtheirdistinctionlies,andonlyforus,theobservers,doesitconstituteanecessaryseries;forbelief,however,theirdistinctionisastaticdiversity,andtheirmovementsimplyahistoricalfact。
Todealshortlywiththeexternalcharacteroftheirform:asintheworldofculturestate-powerorthegoodwasprimary,soherethefirstandforemostmomentisAbsoluteBeing,spiritabsolutelyself-contained,sofarasitissimpleeternalsubstances。(6)Butintheprocessofrealizingitsconstitutivenotionwhichconsistsinbeingspirit,thatsubstancepassesoverintoaformwhereitexistsforanother;itsself-identitybecomesactualAbsoluteBeing,actualizedinself-sacrifice;itbecomesaself,butaselfthatistransitoryandpassesaway。(7)Hencethethirdstageisthereturnofselfthusalienated,thesubstancethusabased,intoitsfirstprimalsimplicity。Onlywhenthisisdoneisspiritpresentedandmanifestedasspirit。(8)
ThesedistinctultimateRealities,whenbroughtbackbythoughtintothemselvesoutofthefluxoftheactualworld,arechangeless,eternalspirits,whosebeingliesinthinkingtheunitywhichtheyconstitute。Whilethustornawayfromself-consciousness,theseRealitiesallthesamelayholdonit;foriftheUltimateRealityweretobefixedandunmovedintheformofthefirstbareandsimplesubstance,itwouldremainalientoself-consciousness。Butthelayingaside,the“emptying“ofthissubstance,andafterwardsitsspirit,involvestheelementofconcreteactuality,andtherebyparticipatesinthebelievingself-consciousness,orthebelievingattitudeofconsciousnessbelongstotherealworld。
Accordingtothissecondcondition,thebelievingtypeofconsciousnesspartlyfindsitsactualityintherealworldofculture,andconstitutesitsspiritanditsexistence,whichhavebeendescribed;
partly,however,belieftakesupanattitudeofoppositiontothisitsownactuality,looksonthisassomethingvain,andistheprocessofcancellingandtranscendingit。Thisprocessdoesnotconsistinthebelievingconsciousnessmakingwittyremarksaboutthepervertedconditionofthatreality;
foritisthenaivesimpleconsciousness,whichreckonsespritandwitasemptinessandvanity,becausethisstillhastherealworldforitspurpose。Onthecontrary,inoppositiontoitsplacidrealmofthoughtstandsconcreteactualityasasoullessformofexistence,whichonthataccounthastobeovercomeinexternalfashion。Thisobediencethroughserviceandpraise,bycancellingsense-knowledgeandaction,producestheconsciousnessofunitywiththeself-completeandself-existingBeing,thoughnotinthesenseofanactualperceivedunity。Thisserviceismerelytheincessantprocessofproducingthesenseofunity,aprocessthatnevercompletelyreachesitsgoalintheactualpresent。Thereligiouscommunionnodoubtdoesso,foritisuniversalself-consciousness。Butfortheindividualself-consciousnesstherealmofpurethoughtnecessarilyremainssomethingawaybeyonditsactuality;or,again,sincethisremoteregionbytheemptying,the“kenosis“,oftheeternalBeing,hasenteredthesphereofactuality,itsactualityissensuous,uncomprehended。Butonesensuousactualityiseverindifferentandexternaltoanother,andwhatliesbeyondhasthusonlyreceivedthefurthercharacterofremotenessinspaceandtime。Theessentialnotion,however—theconcreteactualityofspiritdirectlypresenttoitself—remainsforbeliefaninnerprinciple,whichisallandeffectsall,butneveritselfcomestothelight。
Inthecaseofpureinsight,however,theconcept,theessentialnotion(Begriff),isalonethereal;
andthisthirdaspectofbelief—thatofbeinganobjectforpureinsight—isthespecificrelationinwhichbeliefhereappears。Pureinsightitselfhaslikebelieftobeconsideredpartlybyitself(anundfürsich),partlyinrelationtotherealworld—sofarastherealworldisstillpresentinpositiveshape,viz。intheformofavainconsciousness—andlastlyinthatrelationtobeliefjustmentioned。
Wehavealreadyseenwhatpureinsightbyitselfis。Beliefisunperturbedpureconsciousnessofspiritastheessentiallyreal;pureinsightistheself-consciousnessofspiritastheessentiallyreal;itknowstheessentiallyreal,therefore,notquaessencebutquaAbsoluteSelf。
Itsaimthusistocanceleverykindofindependencewhichfallswithoutself-consciousness,whetherthatbetheindependenceoftheactuallyobjectiveoroftheinherentlyreal,andtomoulditintoconceptualform。Itnotmerelyisthecertaintyofself-consciousreasonassuredofbeingalltruth;itknowsthatitisso。
Intheform,however,inwhichthenotionofpureinsightmeetsusfirst,itisnotyetrealized。Asaphaseofconsciousnessitappearsinconsequenceassomethingcontingent,assomethingisolatedandparticular,anditsinmostconstitutivenatureappearsassomepurposethatithastocarryoutandrealize。Ithastobeginwiththeintentionofmakingpureinsightuniversal,i。e。ofmakingeverythingthatisactualintoanotion,andoneandthesamenotionforeveryself-consciousness。(9)
Theintentionispure,foritscontentispureinsight;andthisinsightissimilarlypure,foritscontentissolelytheabsolutenotion,whichfindsnooppositioninanobject,andisnotrestrictedinitself。Intheunrestrictednotiontherearefoundatonceboththeaspects—thateverythingobjectiveistosignifyonlytheself-existent,self-consciousness,andthatthisistosignifysomethinguniversal,thatpureinsightistobethepropertyofallself-consciousnesses。Thissecondfeatureoftheintentionissofararesultofculture,inthatincultureboththedistinctionsofobjectivespirit,theparts,andexpressdeterminationsofitsworld,havecometonaught,aswellasthedistinctionswhichappearedasoriginallydeterminatenatures。Genius,talent,specialcapacitiesoneandall,belongtotheworldofactuality,insofarasthisworldcontainsstilltheaspectofbeingaherdofself-consciousindividuals,where,inconfusionandmutualviolence,individualscheatandstrugglewithoneanotheroverthecontentsoftherealworld。
(3)TheRationalityofPureInsightTheabovedistinctionsdoubtlesshavenoplaceinitasgenuineespèces。Individualityneitheriscontentedwithunreal“fact“,norhasspecialcontentandpurposesofitsown。Itcountsmerelyassomethinguniversallyacknowledgedandaccepted,viz。quacultivatedanddeveloped;andthefactofdistinctionisreducedtoamatteroflessormoreenergy,adistinctionofquantity,i。e。anon-essentialdistinction。Thislastdifference,however,hascometonothing,bythefactthatthedistinctioninthestatewhereconsciousnesswascompletelytornasunder,turnedroundintoanabsolutelyqualitativedistinction。Whatistheretheotherfortheegoismerelytheegoitself。Inthisinfinitejudgmentalltheone-sidednessandpeculiarityoftheoriginalself-existingselfisextinguished;theselfknowsitselfquapureselftobeitsownobject;andthisabsoluteidentityofbothsidesistheelementofpureinsight。
Pureinsight,therefore,isthesimpleultimatebeingundifferentiatedwithinitself,andatthesametimetheuniversalachievementandresultandauniversalpossessionofall。Inthissimplespiritualsubstanceself-consciousnessgivesitselfandmaintainsforitselfineveryobjectthesenseofthisitsownindividualbeingorofaction,justasconverselytheindividualityofself-consciousnessisthereidenticalwithitselfanduniversal。
Thispureinsightis,then,thespiritthatcallstoeveryconsciousness:beforyourselveswhatyouareallessentiallyinyourselves—rational。
1。Thecontrastbetweenthesetwoelementsisfoundbothinthepre-Reformationperiodandintheeighteenth-centuryperiod;inthelatterthecontrastassumesperhapsitsacutestform。
2。Kant:“Pureegoistheabsoluteunityofapperception。”
3。“Beliefisakindofknowledge。”-Encycl。:§554。
4。Kant:“Iamtheessentialrealitywhenconsciousofmyselfinpurethought。”
5。The“persons“ofthe“Trinity“。
6。Godtranscendent,GodasSubstance,GodtheFather。
7。TheGod-man,Christ。
8。GodasAbsoluteSpirit,GodtheHolyGhost。
9。“Kant\'sphilosophyistheenlightenmentadaptedsoastobecomeaphilosophicalmethod。”-Hegel,W。W。15,p。502。
II。
Enlightenment(1)
THEpeculiarobjectagainstwhichpureinsightdirectstheactiveforceofthenotionisbelief,thisbeingaformofpureconsciousnesslikeitselfandyetopposedtoitinthatelement。Butatthesametimepureinsighthasarelationtotheactualworld,for,likebelief,itisareturnfromtheactualworldintopureconsciousness。Wehavefirstofalltoseebowitsactivityisconstitutedasoperatingagainsttheimpuremotivesandthepervertedformsofinsightfoundintheactualworld。(2)
Wehavetouchedalreadyontheplacidtypeofconsciousness,Whichstandsincontrasttothisturmoilofalternateself-dissolutionandself-recreation;itconstitutestheaspectofpureinsightandintention。Thisunperturbedconsciousness,however,aswesaw,hasnospecialinsightregardingthesphereofculture。Thelatterhasitselfratherthemostpainfulfeeling,andthetruestinsightaboutitself—thefeelingthateverythingmadesecurecrumblestopieces,thateverylimbofitsexistenceiswrackedandrent,andeverybonebroken:moreover,itconsciouslyexpressesthisfeelinginwords,pronouncesjudgmentandgivessparklingutteranceconcerningallaspectsofitscondition。
Pureinsight,therefore,canhaveherenoactivityandcontentofitsown,andthuscanonlytakeuptheattitudeofformallyandtrulyapprehendingthiswittyinsightpeculiartotheworldandthelanguageitadopts。Sincethislanguageisascatteredandbrokenutteranceandthepronouncementaficklemoodofthemoment,whichisagainquicklyforgotten,andisonlyknowntobeawholebyathirdconsciousness,thislattercanbedistinguishedaspureinsightonlyifitgathersthoseseveralscatteredtracesintoauniversalpicture,andthenmakesthemtheinsightofall。
Bythissimplemeanspureinsightwillresolvetheconfusionofthisworld。Forwehavefoundthattheareasanddeterminateconceptionsandindividualitiesarenottheessentialnatureofthisactuality,butthatitfindsitssubstanceandsupportaloneinthespiritwhichexistsquajudginganddiscussing,andthattheinterestofhavingacontentforthisratiocinationandparlayingtodealwithalonepreservesthewholeandtheareasofitsarticulation。Inthislanguagewhichinsightadopts,itsself-consciousnessisstillthisisolatedindividual,aselfexistingforitself;buttheemptinessofitscontentisatthesametimeemptinessoftheselfknowingthatcontenttobevainandempty。Now,whentheconsciousnessplacidlyapprehendingallthesesparklingutterancesofvanitymakesacollectionofthemoststrikingandpenetratingphrases,thesoulthatstillpreservesthewhole,thevanityofwittycriticism,goestoruinwiththeotherformofvanity,thepreviousvanityofexistence。
Thecollectionshowsmostpeopleabetterwit,oratleastshowseveryoneamorevariedwitthantheirown,andshowsthat“knowing-better“and“judging“generallyaresomethinguniversalandarenowuniversallyfamiliar。Therebythesoleandonlysurvivinginterestisdoneawaywith;andindividuallightisresolvedintouniversalinsight。
Still,however,knowledgeofessentialrealitystandssecureabovevainandemptyknowledge;andpureinsightonlyappearsingenuinelyactiveforminsofarasitentersintoconflictwithbelief。
1。Enlightenment(Aufkl?rung)istheuniversalizationoftheprincipleof“pureinsight“,andhenceislogicallytheoutcomeoftheprecedinganalysis。
2。Cf。Pp。541ff。
II。aTheStruggleofEnlightenmentwithSuperstition(1)
THEvariousnegativeformswhichconsciousnessadopts,theattitudeofscepticism,andthatoftheoreticalandpracticalidealism,areinferiorattitudescomparedwiththatofpureinsightandtheexpansionofpureinsight-enlightenment;forpureinsightisbornofthesubstanceofspirit,itknowsthepureselfofconsciousnesstobeabsolute,andentersintoconflictwiththepureconsciousnessoftheAbsoluteBeingofallreality。
Sincebeliefandinsightarethesamepureconsciousness,butinformareopposed—therealityinthecaseofbeliefbeingathought,notanotion,andhencesomethingabsolutelyopposedtoself-consciousness,whiletherealityinthecaseofpureinsightistheself—theyaresuchthatintersetheoneistheabsolutenegativeoftheother。
Asappearingtheoneagainsttheother,allcontentfallstobelief;forinitsunperturbedelementofthoughteverymomentobtainsdefinitesubsistence。Pureinsight,however,isinthefirstinstancewithoutanycontent;itisratherthesheerdisappearanceofcontent;butbyitsnegativeattitudetowardswhatitexcludesitwillmakeitselfrealandgiveitselfacontent。
(1)TheNegativeAttitudeofInsighttowardsBeliefItknowsbelieftobeopposedtoinsight,opposedtoreasonandtruth。Justas,forit,beliefisingeneralatissueofsuperstitiousprejudicesanderrors;soitfurtherseestheconsciousnessembracingthiscontentorganizedintoarealmoferror,inwhichfalseinsightisthegeneralsphereofconsciousness,immediate,naivelyunperturbed,andinherentlyunreflective。Yetallthewhilethisfalseinsightdoeshavewithinitthemomentofself-reflexion,themomentofself-consciousness,separatedfromitssimplena?veté,andkeepsthisreflexioninthebackgroundasaninsightremainingbyitself,andasanevilintentionbywhichthatformerconsciousstateisbefooled。ThatmentalsphereisthevictimofthedeceptionofaPriesthood,whichcarriesoutitsenviousvainconceitofbeingaloneinpossessionofinsight,andcarriesoutitsotherselfishendsaswell。AtthesametimethispriesthoodconspireswithDespotism,whichtakesuptheattitudeofbeingthesyntheticcrude(begrifflos)unityoftherealandthisidealkingdom—asingularlyamorphousandinconsistenttypeofbeing—andstandsabovethebadinsightofthemultitudeandthebadintentionofthepriests,andevencombinesbothofthesewithinitself。Astheresultofthestupidityandconfusionproducedamongstthepeoplebytheagencyofpriestlydeception,despotismdespisesbothanddrawsforitselftheadvantageofundisturbedcontrolandthefulfilmentofitslusts,itshumours,anditswhims。Yetatthesametimeitisitselfinthissamestateofmurkyinsight,isequallysuperstitionanderror。
Enlightenmentdoesnotattackthesethreeformsoftheenemywithoutdistinction。Forsinceitsessentialnatureispureinsight,whichisperseuniversal,itstruerelationtotheotherextremeisthatinwhichitisconcernedwiththecommonandidenticalelementinboth。Theaspectofindividualexistenceisolatingitselffromtheuniversalna?veconsciousnessistheantithesisofit,andcannotbedirectlyaffectedbyit。Thewillofthedeceivingpriesthoodandtheoppressivedespotis,therefore,notprimarilytheobjectonwhichitdirectsitsactivity;itsobjectistheinsightthatiswithoutwillandwithoutindividualizedisolatedself-existence,thenotion(Begriff)ofrationalself-consciousness,whichhasitsexistenceinthetotalconsciousarea,butisnotyetthereinthefullnessofitstruemeaning(Begriff)。
Since,however,pureinsightrescuesthisgenuinelyhonestformofinsight,withitsnaivesimplicityofnature,fromprejudicesanderrors,itwrestsfromthehandsofbadintentiontheeffectiverealizationofitspowersofdeception,forwhoserealmtheincoherentandundeveloped(begrifflos)consciousnessofthegeneralareaprovidesthebasisandrawmaterial,whiletheself-existenceofeachpowerfindsitssubstanceinthesimpleconsciousness。
TherelationofpureinsighttothenaiveconsciousnessofabsoluteBeinghasnowadoubleaspect。
Ononesidepureinsightisinherentlyoneandthesamewithit。Ontheotherside,however,thisnaiveconsciousnessletsabsoluteBeingaswellasitspartsdisposethemselvesatwillinthesimpleelementofitsthought,andsubsistthere,andletsthemboldonlyasitsinherentnatureandhenceholdgoodinobjectiveform。Inacceptingthisinherentnatureitdisowns,however,itsownindependentexistence。Insofaras,accordingtothefirstaspect,thisbeliefisforpureinsightinherentlyandessentiallypureself-consciousness,andhasmerelytobecomesoexpresslyforitself,pureinsightfindsinthisconstitutivenotionofbelieftheelementinwhich,inplaceoffalseinsight,itrealizesitself。
Since,fromthispointofview,bothareessentiallythesame,andtherelationofpureinsighttakeseffectthroughandinthesameelement,thecommunicationbetweenthemisdirectandimmediate,andtheirgiveandtakeanunbrokeninterfusion。Whateverpinsandboltsmaybeotherwisedrivenintoconsciousness,itisinitselfthissimplicityofnatureinwhicheverythingisresolved,forgotten,andunconstrained,andwhich,therefore,isabsolutelyreceptivetotheactivityofthenotion。Thecommunicationofpureinsightisonthataccountcomparabletoasilentextensionortheexpansion,say,ofascentintheunresistingatmosphere。Itisapenetratinginfection,whichdidnotpreviouslymakeitselfnoticeableassomethingdistinctfromandopposedtotheindifferentmediumintowhichitinsinuatesitsway,andhencecannotbeaverted。Onlywhentheinfectionhasbecomewidespreadisthatconsciousnessalivetoit,whichunconcernedlyyieldedtoitsinfluence。Forwhatthisconsciousnessreceivedintoitselfwasdoubtlesssomethingsimple,homogeneous,anduniformthroughoutit,butwasatthesametimethesimplicityofself-reflectednegativity,whichlateronalsodevelopsbyitsnatureintosomethingopposed,andtherebyremindsconsciousnessofitspreviousstate。Thissimpleuniformityisthenotion,whichissimpleknowledgethatknowsbothitselfanditsopposite,thisoppositebeing,however,cancelledasoppositewithintheself-knowledgeofthenotion。Inthecondition,therefore,inwhichconsciousnessbecomesawareofpureinsight,thisinsightisalreadywidespread。Thestrugglewithitbetraysthefactthattheinfectionhasdoneitswork。Thestruggleistoolate;andeverymeanstakenmerelymakesthediseaseworse;forthediseasehasseizedtheverymarrowofspirituallife,viz。consciousnessinitsultimateprinciple(Begriff),oritspureinmostnatureitself。Thereisthereforenopowerleftinconsciouslifetosurmountthedisease。Becauseitaffectstheveryinmostbeing,itsmanifestations,solongastheyremainisolated,arerepressedandsubsideanditssuperficialsymptomsaresmothered。Thisisimmenselytoitsadvantage;foritdoesnotnowsquanderitspowerinuselessfashion,nordoesitshowitselfunworthyofitstruenature—whichisthecasewhenitbreaksoutintosymptomsandisolatederuptionsantithetictothecontentofbeliefandtotheconnexionofitsexternalreality。
Rather,beingnowaninvisibleandunperceivedspirit,itinsinuatesitswaythroughandthroughthenobleparts,andsoonhasgotcompleteboldoverallthevitalsandmembersoftheunconsciousidol;andthen“somefinemorningitgivesitscomradeashovewiththeelbow,when,bash!crash!
—andtheidolislyingonthefloor“。(2)Onsome“finemorning“,whosenoonisnotredwithblood,iftheinfectionhaspenetratedtoeveryorganofspirituallife。Itisthenthememoryalonethatstillpreservesthedeadformofthespirit\'spreviousstate,asavanishedhistory,vanishedmenknownothow。Andthenewserpentofwisdom,raisedonhighbeforebendingworshippers,hasinthismannerpainlesslysloughedmerelyashrivelledskin。
Butthissilentsteadyworkingoftheloomofspiritintheinnerregionofitssubstance,(3)spirit\'sownactionbeinghiddenfromitself,ismerelyonesideoftherealizingofpureinsight。Itsexpansiondoesnotonlyconsistinlikecombiningwithlike;anditsrealizationisnotmerelyanunresistedexpansion。Theactionoftheprincipleofnegationisjustasessentiallyadevelopedprocessofself-distinction,which,beingaconsciousaction,mustsetforthitsmomentsinadefinitelymanifestedexpression,andmustmakeitsappearanceintheformofagreatnoise,andaviolentstrugglewithanoppositeassuch。
Wehave,therefore,toseehowpureinsightandpureintentionmanifestsitsnegativeattitudetowardsthatotherwhichitfindsstandingopposedtoit。
Pureinsightandintention,operatingnegatively,canonlybe—sinceitsveryprincipleisallessentialityandthereisnothingoutsideit—thenegativeofitself。Asinsight,therefore,itpassesintothenegativeofpureinsight,itbecomesuntruthandunreason;andasintentionitpassesintothenegativeofpureintention,becomesalieandsordidimpurityofpurpose。
Itinvolvesitselfinthiscontradictionbythefactthatitengagesinastrifeandthinkstodobattlewithsomealienexternalother。Itmerelyimaginesthis,foritsnatureasabsolutenegativityliesinhavingthatothernesswithinitsownself。Theabsolutenotionisthecategory;itistheprinciplethatknowledgeandtheobjectofknowledgearethesame。Inconsequence,whatpureinsightexpressesasitsother,whatitpronouncestobeanerrororalie,canbenothingelsethanitsownself;itcanonlycondemnwhatitselfis。Whatisnotrationalhasnotruth,orwhatisnotcomprehendedthroughanotion,conceptuallydetermined,isnot。Whenreasonthusspeaksofsomeotherthanitselfis,itinfactspeaksmerelyofitself;itdoesnotthereingobeyonditself。
Thisstrugglewiththeopposite,therefore,combinesinitsmeaningthesignificanceofbeinginsight\'sownactualization。Thisconsistsjustintheprocessofunfoldingitsmomentsandtakingthembackintoitself。Onepartofthisprocessisthemakingofthedistinctioninwhichtheinsightofreasonopposesitselfasobjecttoitself;solongasitremainsinthiscondition,itisatvariancewithitself。
Quapureinsightitiswithoutanycontent;theprocessofitsrealizationconsistsinitselfbecomingcontenttoitself;fornoothercanbemadeitscontent,becauseitisthecategorybecomeself-conscious。Butsincethisinsightinthefirstinstancethinksofthecontentasinitsopposite,andknowsthecontentmerelyasacontent,anddoesnotasyetthinkofitasitsownself,pureinsightmisconceivesitselfinit。Thecompleteattainmentofinsight,therefore,hasthesenseofaprocessofcomingtoknowthatcontentasitsown,whichwastobeginwithoppositetoitself。Itsresult,however,willbetherebyneitherthereestablishmentoftheerrorsitfightswith,normerelyitsoriginalnotion,butaninsightwhichknowstheabsolutenegationofitselftobeitsownproperrealitytobeitsself,oraninsightwhichisitsself-understandingnotion。
Thisfeatureofthestruggleofenlightenmentwitherrors—thatoffightingitselfinthem,andofcondemningthatinthemwhichitasserts—thisissomethingforuswhoobservetheprocess,oriswhatenlightenmentanditsstruggleareinthemselvesimplicitly。Thefirstaspectofthisstruggle,however—thecontaminationanddefilementofenlightenmentthroughitspureself-identityacceptingtheattitudeandfunctionofdestructivenegation—thisbowbelieflooksuponit;belieffindsitsimplylyingunreasonandmaliciousintent,justasenlightenmentinthesamewayregardsbeliefaserrorandprejudice。
Asregardsitscontent,itisinthefirstinstanceemptyinsight,whosecontentappearsanexternalothertoit。Itmeetsthiscontent,consequently,intheshapeofsomethingnotyetitsown,assomethingthatexistsquiteindependentofit,andisfoundinbelief。
Enlightenment,then,conceivesitsobjectinthefirstinstanceandgenerallyinsuchawayastotakeitaspureinsight,andfailingtorecognizeitselfthere,interpretsitaserror。Ininsightassuchconsciousnessapprehendsanobjectinsuchamannerthatitbecomestheinnerbeingofconsciouslife,orbecomesanobjectwhichconsciousnesspermeates,inwhichconsciousnessmaintainsitself,keepswithinitself,andispresenttoitself,and,byitsthusbeingtheprocessofthatobject,bringstheobjectintobeing。Itispreciselythiswhichenlightenmentrightlydeclaresbelieftobe,whenenlightenmentsaysthattheAbsoluteRealityprofessedbybeliefisabeingthatcomesfrombelief\'sownconsciousness,isitsownthought,somethingproducedfromandbyconsciousness。(4)
Enlightenment,consequently,explainsanddeclaresittobeerror,tobeamade-upinventionabouttheverysamethingasenlightenmentitselfis。
Enlightenmentthatseekstoteachbeliefthisnewwisdomdoesnot,indoingso,tellitanythingnew。
Fortheobjectofbeliefitselfisjustthistoo,viz。apureessentialrealityofitsownpeculiarconsciousness;sothatthisconsciousnessdoesnotputitselfdownforlostandnegatedinthatobject,butratherputstrustinit;andthisjustmeansthatitfindsitselfthereasthisparticularconsciousness,findsitselfthereintobeself-consciousness。IfIputmytrustinanyone,hiscertitudeofhimselfisformethecertitudeofmyself;Iknowmyself-existenceinhim,Iknowthatheacknowledgesit,andthatitisforhimbothhispurposeandhisrealnature。Belief,however,istrust,becausethebelievingconsciousnesshasadirectrelationtoitsobject,andthusseesatoncethatitisonewiththeobject,andintheobject。
Further,sincewhatisobjectformeissomethinginwhichIknowmyself,Iamatthesametimeinthatobjectreallyintheformofanotherself-consciousness,i。e。onewhichhasbecomeinthatobjectalienatedfromitsownparticularindividuation,fromitsnaturalandcontingentexistence,butwhichpartlycontinuesthereintobeself-consciousness,andpartlyisthereanessentialconsciousnessjustlikepureinsight。
Inthenotionofinsightthereliesnotmerelythis,thatconsciousnessknowsitselfintheobjectitlooksat,andfindsitselfdirectlythere,withoutfirstquittingthethoughtelementandthenreturningintoitself;thenotionimpliesaswellthatconsciousnessisawareofitselfasbeingalsothemediatingprocess,awareofitselfasactive,astheagencyofproduction。Throughthisitgetsthethoughtofthisunityofselfasselfandobject。
Beliefalsoisthisveryconsciousness。Obedienceandactionmakeanecessarymoment,throughwhichthecertaintyofexistenceinAbsoluteBeingcomesabout。ThisactionofbeliefdoesnotindeedmakeitappearasifAbsoluteBeingisitselfproducedthereby。ButtheAbsoluteBeingforbeliefisessentiallynottheabstractbeingthatliesbeyondthebelievingconsciousness;itisthespiritofthereligiouscommunion,itistheunityofthatabstractbeingandself-consciousness。Theactionofthecommunionisanessentialmomentinbringingaboutthatitisthisspiritofthecommunion。
Thatspiritiswhatitisbytheproductiveactivityofconsciousness,orratheritdoesnotexistwithoutbeingproducedbyconsciousness。Foressentialasthisprocessofproductionis,itisastrulynottheonlybasisofAbsoluteBeing;itismerelyamoment。TheAbsoluteBeingisatthesametimeself-completeandself-contained(anundfürsichselbst)。
Ontheothersidethenotionofpureinsightisseentobesomethingelsethanitsownobject;forjustthisnegativecharacterconstitutestheobject。ThusfromtheothersideitalsoexpressestheultimateBeingofbeliefassomethingforeigntoself-consciousness,somethingthatisnotaboneofitsbone,butissurreptitiouslyfoistedonitlikeachangelingchild。Buthereenlightenmentisentirelyfoolish;beliefexperiencesitasawayofspeakingwhichdoesnotknowwhatitissaying,anddoesnotunderstandthefactsofthecasewhenittalksaboutpriestlydeception,anddeludingthepeople。Itspeaksaboutthisasifbymeansofsomehocus-pocusofconjuringpriestcrafttherewerefoistedonconsciousnessastrueRealitysomethingthatisabsolutelyforeign,andabsolutelyalientoit;andyetsaysallthewhilethatthisisanessentialrealityforconsciousness,thatconsciousnessbelievesinit,trustsinit,andseekstomakeitfavourablydisposedtowardsitself,i。e。thatconsciousnessthereinseesitspureultimateBeingjustasmuchasitsownsingleanduniversalindividuality,andcreatesbyitsownactionthisunityofitselfwithitsessentialreality。Inotherwords,itdirectlydeclaresthattobetheveryinmostnatureofconsciousnesswhichitdeclarestobesomethingalientoconsciousness。
How,then,canitpossiblyspeakaboutdeceptionanddelusion?Bythefactthatitdirectlyexpressesaboutbelieftheveryoppositeofwhatitassertsofbelief,itipsofactoreallyrevealsitselftobeliefastheconsciouslie。Howaredeceptionanddelusiontotakeplace,whereconsciousnessinitsverytruthhasdirectlyandimmediatelythecertitudeofitself,whereitpossessesitselfinitsobject,sinceitjustasmuchfindsasproducesitselfthere?Thedistinctionnolongerexists,eveninwords。
Whenthegeneralquestionhasbeenraised,whetheritispermissibletodeludeapeople,theanswer,asafact,wasboundtobethatthequestionispointless,becauseitisimpossibletodeceiveapeopleinthismatter。Brassinplaceofgold,counterfeitinsteadofgenuinecoinmaydoubtlesshaveswindledindividualsmanyatime;lotsofpeoplehavestucktoitthatabattlelostwasabattlewon;andliesofallsortsaboutthingsofsenseandparticulareventshavebeenplausibleforatime;butintheknowledgeofthatinmostrealitywhereconsciousnessfindsthedirectcertaintyofitsownself,theideaofdelusionisentirelybaseless。
Letusseefurtherhowbeliefundergoesenlightenmentinthecaseofthedifferentmomentsofitsownconsciousexperience,towhichtheviewjustnotedreferredinthefirstinstanceonlyinageneralway。Thesemomentsarepurethought,or,quaobject,absoluteBeingperse(anundfürsich);thenitsrelation,asaformofknowledge,toabsoluteBeing,theultimatebasisofitsbelief;
andfinallyitsrelationtoabsoluteBeinginitsacts,i。e。its“worship“andservice。(5)Justaspureinsighthasfailedtorecognizeitselfinbeliefasawholeanddenieditsownnature,weshallfindittakingupinthesemoments,too,anattitudesimilarlypervertedanddistorted。
PureinsightassumestowardstheabsoluteBeingofthebelievingmindanegativeattitude。ThisBeingispurethought,andpurethoughtestablishedwithinitselfasobjectorasthetrueBeing;inthebelievingconsciousnessthisimmanentandessentialrealityofthoughtacquiresatthesametimefortheself-existentconsciousnesstheformofobjectivity,butmerelytheemptyform;itexistsinthecharacterofsomething“presented“toconsciousness。Topureinsight,however,sinceitispureconsciousnessinitsaspectofselfexistingforitself,thisotherappearsassomethingnegativeofself-consciousness。Thismightstillbetakeneitherasthepureessentialrealityofthought,oralsoasthebeingfoundinsense-experience,theobjectofsense-certainty。Butsinceitisatthesametimefortheself,andthisself,quaselfwhichhasanobject,isanactualconsciousness,forinsightthepeculiarobjectassuchisanordinaryexistingthingofsense。Thisitsobjectappearsbeforeitinthepicture-presentationfoundinbelief。Itcondemnsthisideaandindoingsocondemnsitsownproperobject。Itreallycommitsawrong,however,againstbeliefinsoapprehendingtheobjectofbeliefasifitwereitsownobject。AccordinglyitstatesregardingbeliefthatitsabsoluteBeingisapieceofstone,ablockofwood,havingeyesandseeingnot,oragainabitofbread-dough,whichisobtainedfromgraingrownonthefieldandtransformedbymenandisreturnedtoearthagain;
orinwhateverotherwaysbeliefmaybesaidtoanthropomorphizeabsoluteBeing,makingitobjectiveandrepresentable。
(2)TheDoctrineofEnlightenmentEnlightenment,proclaimingitselfasthepureandtrue,hereturnswhatisheldtobeeternallifeandholyspiritintoaconcretepassingthingofsense,andcontaminatesitwithwhatbelongstosense-certainty—withanaspectinherentlyworthlessandonewhichisnottobefoundatallintheworshipingattitudeofbelief,sothatenlightenmentsimplycalumniatesitbyintroducingsuchanaspect。Whatbeliefreveresisforbeliefassuredlyneitherstonenorwood,norbread-dough,noranyothersortofthingoftimeandsense。Ifenlightenmentthinksitworthwhiletosayitsobjectallthesameisthisaswell,oreventhatitisthisinitsinherentnatureandintruth,thenbeliefalsoknowsthatsomethingwhichitis“aswell“,butforitthissomethingliesoutside;itsworship;ontheotherhand,however,beliefdoesnotlookonsuchthingsasstones,etc。,ashavinganinherentandessentialbeingatall,theessentialnatureasgraspedbypurethoughtisaloneforitsomethinginherentlyreal。
ThesecondmomentistherelationofbeliefasaformofknowingconsciousnesstothisultimateBeing。AspurethinkingconsciousnessbeliefhasthisBeingimmediatelybeforeit。Butpureconsciousnessisjustasmuchamediaterelationofconsciouscertaintytotruth,arelationconstitutingthegroundofbelief。Forenlightenmentthisgroundcomessimilarlytoberegardedasachanceknowledgeofchanceoccurrences。Thegroundofknowledge,however,istheconsciousuniversal,andinitsultimatemeaningisabsolutespirit,whichinabstractpureconsciousness,orthoughtassuch,ismerelyabsoluteBeing,butquaself-consciousnessistheknowledgeofitself。
Pureinsighttreatsthisconsciousuniversal,self-knowingspiritpureandsimple,likewiseasanelementnegativeofself-consciousness。Doubtlessthisinsightisitselfpuremediatethought,,i。e。
thoughtmediatingitselfwithitself,itispureknowledge;butsinceitispureinsight,orpureknowledge,whichdoesnotyetknowitself,i。e。forwhichasyetthereisnoawarenessthatitisthispureprocessofmediation,thisprocessseemstoinsight,likeeverythingelseconstitutingit,tobesomethingexternal,another。Whenrealizingitsinherentprinciple,then,itdevelopsthismomentessentialtoit;butthatmomentseemstoittobelongtobelief,andtobe,initscharacterofanexternalother,afortuitousknowledgeofstoriesof“real“eventsinthisordinarysenseof“real“。Itthusherechargesreligiousbeliefwithbasingitscertaintyonsomeparticularhistoricalevidences,which,consideredashistoricalevidences,wouldassuredlynotevenwarrantthatdegreeofcertaintyaboutthematterwhichwegetregardinganyeventmentionedinthenewspapers。Itfurthermakestheimputationthatthecertaintyinthecaseofreligiousbeliefrestsontheaccidentalfactofthepreservationofallthisevidence:onthepreservationofthisevidencepartlybymeansofpaper,andpartlythroughtheskillandhonestyintransferringwhatiswrittenfromonepapertoanother,andlastlyrestsupontheaccurateinterpretationofthesenseofdeadwordsandletters。
Asamatteroffact,however,itneveroccurstobelieftomakeitscertaintydependonsuchevidencesandsuchfortuitouscircumstances。Beliefinitsconsciousassuranceoccupiesana?veunsophisticatedattitudetowardsitsabsoluteobject,knowsitwithapurity,whichnevermixesupletters,paper,orcopyistswithitsconsciousnessoftheAbsoluteBeing,anddoesnotmakeuseofthingsofthatsorttoaffectitsunionwiththeAbsolute。Onthecontrary,thisconsciousnessistheself-mediating,self-relatinggroundofitsknowledge;itisspirititselfwhichbearswitnessofitselfbothintheinnerheartoftheindividualconsciousness,aswellasthroughthepresenceeverywhereandinallmenofbeliefinit。Ifbeliefwantstoappealtohistoricalevidencesinordertogetalsothatkindoffoundation,oratleastconfirmation,foritscontentwhichenlightenmentspeaksof,andisreallyseriousinthinkingandactingasifthatwereanimportantmatter,thenithaseoipsoalloweditselftobecorruptedandledastraybytheinsinuationsofenlightenment;theeffortsitmakestosecureabasisorsupportinthiswayaremerelyindicationsthatshowhowithasbeenaffectedandinfectedbyenlightenment。
Therestillremainsthethirdaspect,theactiverelationofconsciousnesstoAbsoluteBeing,itsformsofservice。(6)Thisactionconsistsincancellingtheparticularityoftheindividual,orthenaturalformofitsself-existence,whencearisesitscertaintyofbeingpureself-consciousness,ofbeing,astheresultofitsaction,i。e。asaself-existingconsciousindividual,onewithultimateReality。
Sinceinthisactionpurposivenessandendaredistinguished,andpureinsightlikewisetakesupanegativeattitudetowardsthisaction,anddeniesitselfjustasitdidintheothermoments,itmustasregardspurposivenesspresenttheappearanceofbeingstupidandunintelligent,sinceinsightunitedwithintention,accordanceofendwithmeans,appearstoitasanother,asreallytheoppositeofwhatinsightis。Asregardstheend,however,ithastomakebadness,enjoyment,andpossession,itspurpose,andproveitselfinconsequencetobetheimpurestkindofintention,sincepureintention,quaexternal,another,issimilarlyimpureintention。
Accordinglywefindthat,sofarasconcernspurposiveness,enlightenmentthinksitfoolishifthebelievingindividualseekstoobtainthehigherconsciousnessoffreedomfromentanglementwithnaturalenjoymentandpleasure,bypositivelydenyingitselfnaturalenjoymentandpleasure,andprovingthroughitsactsthatthereisnolieinitsopencontemptforthem,butratherthatthecontemptisquitegenuine。
Inthesamewayenlightenmentfindsitfoolishforconsciousnesstoabsolveitselfofitscharacteristicofbeingabsolutelyindividual,excludingallothers,andpossessingpropertyofitsown,byitselfdemittingitsownproperty,fortherebyitshowsinrealitythatthisisolationisnotreallyserious。Itshowsratherthatitselfissomethingthatcanriseabovethenaturalnecessityofisolatingitselfandofdenying,inthisabsoluteisolationofitsownindividualexistence,thateothersareoneandthesamewithitself。
Pureinsightfindsbothpurposelessaswellaswrong。Itispurposelesstorenounceapleasureandgiveawayapossessioninordertoshowoneselfindependentofpleasureandpossession;hence,intheconversecase,insightwillbeobligedtoproclaimthemanafool,who,inordertoeat,employstheexpedientofactuallyeating。Insightagainthinksitwrongtodenyoneselfameal,andgiveawaybutterandeggsnotformoney,normoneyforbutterandeggs,butjusttogivethemawayandgetnoreturnatall;itdeclaresameal,orthepossessionofthingsofthatsort,tobeanendinitself,andhenceinfactdeclaresitselftobeaveryimpureintentionwhichascribesessentialvaluetoenjoymentandpossessionsofthiskind。Aspureintentionitfurthermaintainsthenecessityofrisingabovenaturalexistence,abovecovetousnessastothemeansforsuchexistence;itonlyfindsitfoolishandwrongthatthissupremacyshouldbedemonstratedbyaction。Inotherwordsthispureintentionisinrealityadeception,whichpretendstoanddemandsaninnerelevation,butdeclaresthatitissuperfluous,foolish,andevenwrongtobeinearnestinthematter,toputthisupliftingintoconcreteexpression,intoactualshapeandform,anddemonstrateitstruth。
Pureinsightthusdeniesitselfbothaspureinsight—foritdeniesdirectlypurposiveaction,andaspureintention—foritdeniestheintentionofprovingitsindependenceoftheendsofindividualexistence。
Thus,then,enlightenmentmakesbelieflearnwhatitmeans。Ittakesonthisappearanceofbeingbad,becausejustbythefactofrelationtoanexternalotheritgivesitselfanegativereality,itpresentsitselfastheoppositeofitself。Pureinsightandintentionhavetoadoptthisrelationalattitude,however,forthatistheiractualization。
Thisrealizationappeared,inthefirstinstance,asanegativereality。Perhapsitspositiverealityisbetterconstituted。Letusseehowthisstands。
Ifallprejudiceandsuperstitionhavebeenbanished,thequestionariseswhatnext?Whatisthetruthenlightenmenthasdiffusedintheirstead?Ithasalreadygivenexpressiontothispositivecontentinitsprocessofexterminatingerror,forthatalienationofitselfisequallyitspositivereality。
IndealingwithwhatforbeliefisAbsoluteSpirit,itinterpretswhateversortofdeterminationitdiscoversthereasbeingwood,stone。etc。,asparticularconcretethingsofsense。Sinceinthiswayitconceivesingeneraleverycharacteristic,i。e。everycontentandfilling,tobeafinitefact,tobeahumanentityandamentalpresentation,absoluteBeingonitsviewturnsouttobeamerevacuum,towhichcanbeattributednocharacteristics,nopredicatesatall。Infacttomarrysuchavacuitywithuniversalpredicateswouldbeessentiallyreprehensible;anditisjustthroughsuchaunionthatthemonstrositiesofsuperstitionhavebeenproduced。Reason,pureinsight,isdoubtlessnotemptyitself,sincethenegativeofitselfispresentconsciouslytoit,andisitscontent;itis,onthecontrary,richinsubstance,butonlyinparticularityandrestrictions。Theenlightenedfunctionofreason,ofpureinsight,consistsinallowingnothingofthatsorttoappertaintoAbsoluteBeing,norattributinganythingofthatkindtoit:thisfunctionwellknowshowtoputitselfandthewealthoffinitudeintheirplace,anddealwiththeAbsoluteinaworthymanner。
IncontrastwiththiscolourlessemptyBeingtherestands,asasecondaspectofthepositivetruthofenlightenment,thesinglenessingeneralofconsciouslifeandofallthatitis:—asinglenessexcludedfromanabsoluteBeing,andstandingbyitselfassomethingentirelyself-contained。
Consciousness,whichinitsveryearliestexpressionissense-certaintyandmere“opining“,herecomesback,afterthewholecourseofitsexperience,tothissamepoint,andisonceagainaknowledge,ofwhatispurelynegativeofitself,aknowledgeofsensethings,i。e。ofexistententitieswhichstandinindifferenceoveragainstitsownself-existence。Buthereitisnotanimmediatenaturalconsciousness;ithasbecomesuchforitself。Whileatfirstthepreytoeverysortofentanglement,intowhichitisplungedbyitsgraduallyunfolding,andnowledbacktoitsfirstformbypureinsight,ithasarrivedatthisfirststateastheresultandoutcomeoftheprocess。Thissense-certainty,restingasitdoesonaninsightintothenothingnessofallotherformsofconsciousness,andhencethenothingnessofwhateverisbeyondsense-experience—thissense-certaintyisnolongeramereopining“,itisratherabsolutetruth。Thisnothingnessofeverythingthattranscendssenseisdoubtlessmerelyanegativeproofofthistruth。Butnootherisadmissibleorpossible,forthepositivetruthofsense-experienceinitselfisjusttheunmediatedself-existenceofthenotionitselfquaobjectandanobjectintheformofotherness—thepositivetruthisthatitisabsolutelycertaintoeveryconsciousnessthatitisandthatthereareotherrealthingsoutsideit,andthatinitsnaturalexistenceit,aswellasthesethingstoo,areinandforthemselvesorabsolute。
Lastly,thethirdmomentofthetruthofenlightenmentistherelationoftheparticularbeingstoAbsoluteBeing,istherelationofthefirsttwomomentstooneanother。Insight,quapureinsightofwhatisidenticalorunrestricted,alsotranscendstheunlikeordiverse,i。e。transcendsfinitereality,ortranscendsitselfquamereotherness。The“beyond“ofthisothernessittakestobethevoid,towhichitthereforerelatesthefactsofsense。Indeterminingthisrelationboththetermsdonotentertherelationasitscontent;fortheoneisthevoid,andthusacontentisonlytobehadthroughtheother,throughsensereality。Theformtherelationassumes,however,tothedeterminationofwhichtheaspectofimmanentandultimatebeing(Ansich)contributes,canbeshapedjustasweplease;
fortheformissomethinginherentlyandessentiallynegative,andthereforesomethingself-opposed,beingaswellasnothing,inherentandultimate(Ansich)aswellastheopposite;or,whatisthesamething,therelationofactualitytoaninherentessentialbeingquasomethingbeyond,isasmuchanegatingasapositingofthatactuality。Finiteactualitiescan,therefore,properlyspeaking,betakenjustinthewaypeoplehaveneedofthem。SensefactsarethusrelatednowpositivelytotheAbsolutequasomethingultimate(Ansich),andsenserealityisitselfultimateperse;theAbsolutemakesthem,fostersandcherishesthem。Then,again,theyarerelatedtoitasanopposite,thatistotheirownnon-being;inthiscasetheyarenotsomethingultimate,theyhavebeingonlyforanother。Whereasintheprecedingmodeofconsciousnesstheconceptionsinvolvedintheoppositiontookshapeasgoodandbad,inthecaseofpureinsighttheypassintothemoreabstractformsofwhatisperse(Ansich)andwhatisforanother。
Bothwaysofdealingwiththepositiveaswellasthenegativerelationoffinitudetowhatisperse(Ansich)are,however,equallynecessaryasamatteroffact,andeverythingisthusasmuchsomethingperse,(ansich)asitissomethingforanother:inotherwordseverythingis“useful“。
Everythingisnowatthemercyofotherthings,letsitselfnowbeusedbyothers,andexistsforthem;andthenagainit,sotosay,getsuponitshindlegs,fightsshyoftheother,existsforitselfonitsownaccount。,andonitssideusestheothertoo。
Fromthis,asaresult,man,beingthethingconsciousofthisrelation,deriveshistruenatureandplace。Asheisimmediately,manisgood,quanaturalconsciousnessperse,absolutequaindividual,andallelseexistsforhim:andfurther,—sincethemomentshavethesignificanceofuniversalityforhimquaself-consciousanimal,-everythingexiststopleasureanddelighthim,and,ashefirstcomesfromthehandofGod,hewalkstheearthasinagardenplantedforhim。Heisboundalsotohavepluckedthefruitofthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil;heclaimstohave,auseforitwhichdistinguisheshimfromeveryotherbeing,for,asithappens,hisinherentlygoodnatureisalsosoconstitutedthatthesuperfluityofdelightdoesitharm,orratherhissinglenesscontainsasafactorinitsconstitutionaprinciplethatgoesbeyondit;hissinglenesscanoverreachitselfanddestroyitself。Topreventthis,hefindsreasonausefulmeansfordulyrestrainingthisself-transcendence,orratherforpreservinghimselfwhenhedoesgobeyondthedeterminate:forsuchistheforceofconsciousness。Theenjoymentofthisconsciousandessentiallyuniversalbeingmust,inmanifoldvarietyandduration,beitselfuniversalandnotsomethingdeterminate。Theprincipleofmeasureorproportionhas,therefore,thedeterminatefunctionofpreventingpleasureinitsvarietyanddurationfrombeingquitebrokenoff:i。e。thefunctionof“measure“isimmoderation。